Miraculous Encounter
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples.
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. John 21:1,7
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands , and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus , “lord what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:17-20
Insight
Each summer in the Caribbean Sea, there is an area at about 21 degrees north and 85 degrees west where humans can encounter whale sharks.
One should know this opportunity to swim alongside these massive, majestic creatures is not guaranteed. And it is not easy.
In the Gospel of John, an encounter occurs in its final chapter between Jesus and the disciples. Specifically, Peter’s interactions with Christ here are compelling. When they hear Jesus tell them where they can catch fish then find it a success, excitement ensues. Peter is the lone guy jumping off the boat in his excitement of realizing this is Jesus making an appearance.
Once Peter is near the Lord, the tone shifts. This encounter now looks less like elation (this was an occasion of Jesus appearing after His resurrection!)and more like sorrow. “Grieved” is the word John uses to describe Peter’s emotional state. It did not feel awesome for Peter to hear Jesus question his level of love and commitment. Through Peter’s mortal processor he hears, ‘I’m doubting my confidence in you.’
To add to Peter’s anguish, he feels sparked to start comparing himself to John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” and someone for who Jesus had different, perhaps more flattering plans. Christ’s response to Peter is to be concerned only with his mission, simply following Him.
Before meeting up with whale sharks, there’s the pursuit. It starts with a lengthy, extremely bumpy boat ride cutting through waves to reach where the coastline disappears from sight. Then there’s the waiting, and waiting,… and more waiting amid the constant up and down of the sea. Lastly comes the swimming performance.
Swimming with whale sharks is indeed an experience of a lifetime. It’s breath-taking, quite literally. In my whale-shark encounter, excitement and disregard for the limits of snorkels caused me to suck in a slew of saltwater. I repeatedly poked through the surface, gasping for air. To get a good look at a whale-shark, the swim technique must be right. The idea is to get parallel with the shark’s gills and catch the current from its breathing. Once someone is tracking with one of these colossal fish, it is miraculous.
To etch the experience in your memories though, there is a measure of difficulty and discomfort to overcome.
True growth comes from the formation that happens from important encounters. At times, that formation is even a reformation for us. It is one thing to have the meeting, but another to have it shape you.
What Peter would experience in his world after Christ’s last reveal would reach historical proportions. So Jesus needed to meet Peter with this unsettling charge of things to come.
In our human world, we tend to work at preventing difficulty, and, given a choice, we prefer not to take it on. Small wonder it is not natural for us at that to relish sitting in our struggles. There’s the project manager whom is thrust into a setback because of someone else’s negligence or some ridiculous variable. Maybe it’s the first-year teacher taking charge of a class mid-year, having to reteach concepts and reset discipline for students. Each encounters a critical situation. Each must navigate the perils of difficulty to gain growth.
Consider the endurance athlete fighting for another mile. They learn in their training not to cave to what is just “temporary discomfort” (although it is safe to call it flat-out pain too). To gain something, a process is required. Discomfort is needed. If it matters, it is seldom easy. The process is where the real growth happens.
In the scriptures, we learn that Peter went on to preach at Pentecost, heal a man who could not walk for more than 40 years, and later suffer death by upside-down crucifixion. When Christ tested his love and told him to “tend my sheep,” he was preparing Peter to go from being an ordinary fisherman to a grand figure in what we came to call Christianity.
Today let’s begin noticing our encounters and rejoice in the difficulty, frustration, and waiting they bring. What forms up, as a result, will cause us to own new strength.
Reflection
God has us dig deep for the things that matter, undergoing careful formation that is foundational to what He is making you in your purpose here. Where might God be urging you to settle into discomfort or dissatisfaction that will grow you?
The Apostle Paul writes, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” What truths, reminders, or encouragements does the Bible contain that you can lean on through a time of formation? Dig down!
Prayer
Father God, thank you so much for another day with the chance to experience Your kingdom. Teach me and guide me through Your Word, so that I might gain satisfying wisdom in the face of adversity or the unknown. Grant me strength to see my circumstances as just that, learning from the specific ways You reveal Your goodness to me. In Jesus name, amen.
Port City writer Adam King wrote today’s devotional.
